Attachment of control lines to outside of tubular

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a downhole apparatus including a tubular and at least one line passage extending along an outer surface of the tubular. At least one end clamp is located at least one end of the line passage. The at least one end clamp includes a clamp body and at least one standoff located between the clamp body and the outer surface of the tubular defining a clamp protected space therebetween. Further disclosed is a downhole tubular system including a least two tubular apparatus, each tubular apparatus including at least one tubular and at least one line passage extending along an outer surface of the tubular. At least one end clamp is located at least one end of the line passage. The tubular system further includes at least one coupling clamp disposed at a coupling of the at least two tubular apparatus.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of an earlier filing date from U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/234,471 filed Aug. 17, 2009, theentire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

In the drilling and completion arts, lengths of tubing known as a stringis installed for various purposes such as drilling, injection,production, etc. The art in more recent years has become increasinglyinterested in monitoring and control of devices in the downholeenvironment. To accommodate this interest, lines such as fiber opticlines, electric lines, hydraulic lines, etc are installed adjacent thestring. The lines may be installed in a number of positions relative tothe string such as at the inside dimension of the string, somewherewithin various concentric layers of the string or outside of the string,for example, on a surface thereof or spaced therefrom. Depending uponwhere the lines are run, they may or may not be subject to mechanicallyinflicted damage during running of the string in the hole. While variousmethods are known to protect lines at the outside dimension of thestring such as channels, grooves, etc. the art is still interested inalternative means for protecting the lines that provides good protectionat rapid speed and with minimal complexity of installation.

SUMMARY

A downhole apparatus includes a tubular and at least one line passageextending along an outer surface of the tubular. At least one end clampis located at least one end of the line passage. The at least one endclamp includes a clamp body and at least one standoff located betweenthe clamp body and the outer surface of the tubular defining a clampprotected space therebetween.

A downhole tubular system includes a least two tubular apparatus, eachtubular apparatus including at least one tubular and at least one linepassage extending along an outer surface of the tubular. At least oneend clamp is located at least one end of the line passage. The at leastone end clamp includes a clamp body; and at least one standoff locatedbetween the clamp body and the outer surface of the tubular defining aclamp protected space therebetween. The tubular system further includesat least one coupling clamp disposed at a coupling of the at least twotubular apparatus. The at least one coupling clamp includes at least twocollars wherein at least one collar of the at least two collars islocated at each side of the coupling. Each collar includes a couplingbody extending around a circumference of the outer surface defining acoupling protected space between the coupling body and the outersurface. A coupling sleeve extends between the at least two collars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alikein the several Figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a downhole tubularapparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a joining mechanism between two linepassages of an embodiment of a downhole apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of an end clamp for an embodiment of a downholeapparatus;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of an end clamp;

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a cross-coupling clamp of a downholeapparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a cross-couplingclamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Shown in FIG. 1 a portion of a string 10. The string 10 is a length oftubing installed in a downhole environment for various purposes such asdrilling, injection and/or production. The string 10 includes aplurality of centralizers 12 which extend outwardly from an outersurface 14 of the string 10 to prevent damage to the string 10 when thestring 10 is run into or removed from the downhole environment. Theplurality of centralizers 12 are disposed along a length of the string10 and also around a perimeter of the string 10. The plurality ofcentralizers 12 may be secured to the string 10 by any conventionalmeans, including welding and/or one or more mechanical fasteners such asbolts, or may be formed integral to the string 10. While the embodimentshown in FIG. 1 includes a plurality of centralizers 12, it is to beappreciated that in some embodiments, centralizers 12 may be absent fromthe string 10.

To monitor and/or control one or more devices downhole, one or moremonitoring or control lines 16 extend along the outer surface 14 of thestring 10. The lines may be, for example, electrical lines, hydrauliclines, and/or fiber optic lines, or the like. Further, while four lines16 are shown in FIG. 1, it is to be appreciated that other quantities oflines 16, for example one, two, or ten lines 16 are contemplated herein.

To protect the lines 16 along the string 10, at least one line passage18 is disposed along the outer surface 14 of the string 10 and extendingaxially along the string 10. In some embodiments, the at least one linepassage 18 may be disposed circumferentially between two centralizers12. The at least one line passage 18 may have a tubular cross sectionand in some embodiments may be curved in a circumferential direction to,for example, match a curvature of the string 10. In some embodiments,the at least one line passage 18 cross section is a unitary piece. Theone or more lines 16 extend through the at least one line passage 18 andare protected therein from damage.

In some embodiments, the at least one line passage 18 extendssubstantially an entire length of a joint of the string 10. In otherembodiments, however, it may be desired to utilize two or moreinterconnected line passages 18 arranged axially along the string 10. Inone embodiment, each line passage 18 will extend about 10 feet.Referring to FIG. 2, a first line passage 18 may interconnect to asecond line passage 18 via, for example, a pin and sleeve arrangement.The first line passage 18 may include a sleeve 20 at one circumferentialside and a pin 22 at the other circumferential side, while the secondline passage 18 may similarly include a sleeve 20 and a pin 22. The pin22 of the first line passage 18 is engaged in the sleeve 20 of secondline passage 18 and the pin 22 of the second line passage 18 is insertedinto the sleeve 20 of the first line passage 18. Alternatively, thefirst line passage 18 may be configured entirely with pins 22 and thesecond line passage 18 may be configured entirely with sleeves 20, orvice versa. While the pin and sleeve arrangement is illustrated in FIG.2, it is to be appreciated that other means of interconnecting orjoining the line passages 18 may be utilized. For example, the linepassages 18 may be interconnected utilizing hinges, a telescopingoverlap between the ends of the two line passages 18, and/or bolts.Further, while a single connection between two line passages 18 isshown, other quantities of line passages 18, for example, three or fiveline passages 18 may be arranged along each joint of the string 10.

To secure the lines 16 at each end 24 of each joint of string 10, an endclamp 26 is utilized. Referring to FIG. 3, the end clamp 26 extendsaround the circumference of the string 10 and secures the lines 16thereto. Referring to FIG. 4, the end clamp 26 includes two clamp hinges28 configured to rest on the outer surface 14 of the string 10 when theend clamp 26 is installed. The clamp hinges 28 act as spacers to definea clamp protected space 30 between a clamp body 32 disposed between theclamp hinges 28 and the outer surface 14. The clamp protected space 30in some embodiments may be substantially equal to a thickness of thelines 16 to secure the lines 16 therein when the end clamp 26 issecured. The end clamp 26 includes two clamp arms 34, one clamp arm 34extending from each clamp hinge 28. Each clamp arm 34 includes aplurality of fingers 36 configured to interlock with fingers 36 of theother clamp arm 34 when the end clamp 26 is closed around the string 10.With the fingers 36 interlocked, the end clamp 26 is secured in theclosed position by, for example, a clamp pin 38 installed through aplurality of pin holes 40 in the plurality of fingers 36 to prevent theend clamp 26 from opening unexpectedly. While the embodiment is shownwith two clamp hinges 28, other quantities of clamp hinges 28 may beutilized. Further, additional spacers may be utilized to define theclamp protected space 30.

Referring again to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the clamp body 32 mayinclude a transition passage 42 to protect the lines 16 at the string 10portion between an adjacent line passage 18 and the end clamp 26. Thetransition passage 42 may be tubular in cross-section to match the linepassage 18 and to protect the lines 16 between the line passage 18 andthe end clamp 26. The transition passage 42 may further include asloping portion 44 or other shape to account for any changes in diameterof the string 10 between the line passage 18 and the end clamp 26.Further, the transition passage 42 may be joined to the line passage 18via the pin and sleeve arrangement described above or alternatively viahinges, a telescoping overlap between the end of the line passage 18 andthe transition passage 42, and/or bolts.

In some embodiments, it is desirable to have lines 16 installed alongthe length of the string 10, across couplings of adjacent joints of thestring 10. Referring to FIG. 5, a cross-coupling clamp 46 may bedisposed at the coupling of two joints of string 10. The cross-couplingclamp 46 axially overlaps each joint of string 10 and circumferentiallysurrounds the string 10. The cross-coupling clamp 46 includes a collar48 disposed at each end and a sleeve 50 extending axially between thetwo collars 48 across a coupling between the joints of the string 10.Referring to FIG. 6, each collar 48 includes at least one coupling hinge52 and two coupling arms 54 extending from the coupling hinge 52. Eachcoupling arm 54 may include at least one coupling spacer 56 that, whenthe collar 48 is closed around the string 10 defines a couplingprotected space 58 between the outer surface 14 and the coupling arm 54.The size of coupling spacer 56 used determines a height of the couplingprotected space 58, and different sized coupling spacers 56 may beutilized depending on a size of lines 16 and/or desired height of thecoupling protected space 58. In some embodiments, the coupling protectedspace 58 height is greater than a thickness of lines 16 that aredisposed in the coupling protected space 58. This provides a couplingprotected space 58 that extends around the circumference of the string10 and allows for a helical arrangement of the lines 16 in the couplingprotected space 58 to, for example, compensate for any variation incircumferential alignment of adjacent string joints 10 at the coupling.Referring again to FIG. 5, each coupling arm 54 includes a plurality ofcoupling fingers 60 configured to interlock with coupling fingers 60 ofthe other coupling arm 54 when the collar 48 is closed around the string10. With the coupling fingers 60 interlocked, the cross-coupling clamp46 is secured in the closed position by, for example, a coupling pin(not shown) installed through a plurality of coupling finger holes (notshown) in the plurality of coupling fingers 60 to prevent thecross-coupling clamp 46 from opening unexpectedly.

Referring again to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, the string 10 includes ascreen 62 at the outer surface 14 to filter flow entering the string 10for undesired materials. In some embodiments, the outer surface 14 maybe a flow through tubular 64 having a line 16 attached thereto. The line16 attached to the flow through tubular 64 may be a control line ormonitoring line that is, for example, an electric line, hydraulic line,fiber optic line or the like.

While one or more embodiments have been shown and described,modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to beunderstood that the present invention has been described by way ofillustrations and not limitation.

1. A downhole apparatus comprising: a tubular; at least one line passageextending along an outer surface of the tubular; and at least one endclamp disposed at least one end of the line passage including: a clampbody; and at least one standoff disposed between the clamp body and theouter surface of the tubular defining a clamp protected spacetherebetween.
 2. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at leastone end clamp is joined to the at least one line passage
 3. The downholeapparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one end clamp includes atransition passage which is joined with the at least one line passage.4. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one linepassage is at least two line passages.
 5. The downhole apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein the at least two line passages are arrangedsubstantially axially along the tubular.
 6. The downhole apparatus ofclaim 4 wherein a first line passage of the at least two line passagesis joined to a second line passage of the at least two line passages. 7.The downhole apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp protected space isconfigured to substantially secure the at least one control line to theouter surface.
 8. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 wherein the endclamp extends around a circumference of the tubular.
 9. The downholeapparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one standoff is at least oneclamp hinge.
 10. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 comprising aplurality of centralizers extending outwardly from the outer surface ofthe tubular.
 11. The downhole apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at leastone line passage is disposed circumferentially between two adjacentcentralizers of the plurality of centralizers.
 12. The downholeapparatus of claim 1 wherein a plurality of lines are disposed in theprotected space.
 13. The downhole apparatus of claim 1 wherein thetubular is a screen segment.
 14. A downhole tubular system comprising:at least two tubular apparatus, each tubular apparatus including; atleast one tubular; at least one line passage extending along an outersurface of the tubular; and at least one end clamp disposed at least oneend of the line passage including: a clamp body; and at least onestandoff disposed between the clamp body and the outer surface of thetubular defining a clamp protected space therebetween; and at least onecoupling clamp disposed at a coupling of the at least two tubularapparatus including: at least two collars, at least one collar of the atleast two collars disposed at each side of the coupling, each collarincluding a coupling body extending around a circumference of the outersurface defining a coupling protected space between the coupling bodyand the outer surface; and a coupling sleeve extending between the atleast two collars.
 15. The downhole system of claim 14 comprising atleast one line disposed in the coupling protected space.
 16. Thedownhole system of claim 15 wherein the at least one line is at leastone control line.
 17. The downhole system of claim 15 wherein the atleast one line is at least one fiber optic line.
 18. The downhole systemof claim 15 wherein the coupling protected space is configured to allowfor helical arrangement of the at least one line.
 19. The downholesystem of claim 14 wherein the coupling collar comprises at least onecoupling hinge.
 20. The downhole system of claim 19 including at leasttwo coupling arms extending from the at least one coupling hingecircumferentially around the outer surface.
 21. The downhole system ofclaim 14 including at least one coupling spacer disposed between thecoupling body and the outer surface to define the coupling protectedspace therebetween.
 22. The downhole system of claim 14 wherein thecoupling protected space extends substantially around the entirecircumference of the outer surface.
 23. The downhole system of claim 14wherein the at least one tubular is at least one screen segment.
 24. Thedownhole system of claim 14 wherein the at least one tubular is at leastone flow through tubular with one or more lines attached thereto.